Thursday, July 22, 2010

Leather Sofas

The Chesterfield leather sofa has a noble tradition going back over 300 years. As one of the first pieces of furniture to be fully upholstered, the Chesterfield couch, embodies a long-standing tradition of opulent elegance.

According to legend, the first Chesterfield leather sofa was commissioned by the Fourth Earl of Chesterfield, Phillip Stanhope. Stanhope requested a cabinet maker to create a piece of furniture that would allow a gentleman to sit properly in optimum comfort.

The result was the traditional Chesterfield leather sofa. With distinctive rolled arms and back, deep tufting, rich leather patina, and finished oak feet, the Chesterfield has epitomized high-class luxury for most of its history.

The Chesterfield has been a typical fixture in private clubs, stately mansions, and luxury hotels for hundreds of years, and is said to add “instant class” to any space. It is also said that the Chesterfield couch was used by Sigmund Freud when he hypnotized patients.

Because leather upholstery was so expensive, the traditional Chesterfield was marketed to upscale clients. That, and the legend surrounding its origin, associated the Chesterfield design with royalty, adding to the image of luxury.

But with increased prosperity and newer options in upholstery, the Chesterfield leather couch is no longer the exclusive property of the rich and famous.

Chesterfields are available in a wide variety of sizes, with numerous options in upholstery. The clean, simple lines work well with the popular eclectic trend in home décor,. The classic leather version is an excellent choice for formal living rooms. Many business offices also use traditional Chesterfield couches to enhance their image and provide a subtle psycholoigical advantage when doing business.

But it takes more than attractive appearance to make a design “classic”. The Chesterfield was designed to be comfortable, and it is. In fact, the Chesterfield couch represents the perfect blend of elegance and comfort.